source: Farm and Food Report
Things are looking up for purebred and commercial sheep breeders after a few rough years because of the BSE crisis, according to Saskatchewan Sheep Breeders' Association (SSBA) Vice President Dallas Turner.
"The industry started to rebound in October of 2004. Our prices are up 40 percent. Our entries are up by 30 percent. We expect this to continue at the Grasslands Sheep Show and Sale which will take place on August 6 and 7 in Drake."
The Association is 96 year-old this year. It represents about 35 commercial and purebred breeders, many of which are long-term members. It holds two events each year: the Grasslands Exhibition, which is in Drake this year; and another show in November at Regina's Agribition.
"Our event in Drake will feature more than 150 animals with 25 to 30 exhibitors from all three prairie provinces. The breeds featured will include Suffolk, HampshireNorth Country Cheviot; Dorsett; Columbia, Dorper and Southdown; including purebreds and combinations of these breeds and others originally from England, Scotland and New Zealand."
Turner believes there is a distinctive culture among those who raise sheep. For the average member of the Association, sheep are another profit centre. He himself has been raising sheep for eight years near Kronau. However, he likes to point out that:
"There are about 1,000 farm operators around the province that have sheep on their land. There are as many as 65,000 breeding ewes on these farms. And annually, Saskatchewan markets 100,000 + lambs outside the province-most of which go to Alberta and Ontario.
There is no doubt that Turner would like to see more sheep in Saskatchewan.
"Sheep are easy keepers. In terms of resources consumption, a producer could have seven sheep for every cow and have enough feed for his or her animals. Keep also in mind that one cow produces one calf that you have to keep for eight months before you can sell it for maybe 800 dollars. Meanwhile, you could keep seven sheep that would produce 12 lambs that would together sell for 1,200 dollars in 4 months. There is definitely an advantage in raising sheep," he says.
Turner admits the traditional animosity between promoters of the two ruminants may still be somewhat alive, although it makes less and less sense:
"Many of the 1,000 farms that raise sheep, also raise cattle. There are probably a lot of divided loyalties out there and, really, whether you raise sheep or cattle, we were all affected by BSE. Let us hope we can put this episode behind us soon."
The Grasslands Sheep Show and Sale is a good place to start looking to the future.
Vice President
Saskatchewan Sheep Breeders' Association
(306) 789-9106
Things are looking up for purebred and commercial sheep breeders after a few rough years because of the BSE crisis, according to Saskatchewan Sheep Breeders' Association (SSBA) Vice President Dallas Turner.
"The industry started to rebound in October of 2004. Our prices are up 40 percent. Our entries are up by 30 percent. We expect this to continue at the Grasslands Sheep Show and Sale which will take place on August 6 and 7 in Drake."
The Association is 96 year-old this year. It represents about 35 commercial and purebred breeders, many of which are long-term members. It holds two events each year: the Grasslands Exhibition, which is in Drake this year; and another show in November at Regina's Agribition.
"Our event in Drake will feature more than 150 animals with 25 to 30 exhibitors from all three prairie provinces. The breeds featured will include Suffolk, HampshireNorth Country Cheviot; Dorsett; Columbia, Dorper and Southdown; including purebreds and combinations of these breeds and others originally from England, Scotland and New Zealand."
Turner believes there is a distinctive culture among those who raise sheep. For the average member of the Association, sheep are another profit centre. He himself has been raising sheep for eight years near Kronau. However, he likes to point out that:
"There are about 1,000 farm operators around the province that have sheep on their land. There are as many as 65,000 breeding ewes on these farms. And annually, Saskatchewan markets 100,000 + lambs outside the province-most of which go to Alberta and Ontario.
There is no doubt that Turner would like to see more sheep in Saskatchewan.
"Sheep are easy keepers. In terms of resources consumption, a producer could have seven sheep for every cow and have enough feed for his or her animals. Keep also in mind that one cow produces one calf that you have to keep for eight months before you can sell it for maybe 800 dollars. Meanwhile, you could keep seven sheep that would produce 12 lambs that would together sell for 1,200 dollars in 4 months. There is definitely an advantage in raising sheep," he says.
Turner admits the traditional animosity between promoters of the two ruminants may still be somewhat alive, although it makes less and less sense:
"Many of the 1,000 farms that raise sheep, also raise cattle. There are probably a lot of divided loyalties out there and, really, whether you raise sheep or cattle, we were all affected by BSE. Let us hope we can put this episode behind us soon."
The Grasslands Sheep Show and Sale is a good place to start looking to the future.
- 30 -
Dallas TurnerVice President
Saskatchewan Sheep Breeders' Association
(306) 789-9106
Comments